Orange Dust on Belt

Dose anybody have any idea what could be causing this?

I know I have recently said here that my SC belt is torn, but this has been happening way before that happened. I thought it might be the alternator. Although it tested good, I recently replaced it, and cleaned the area but the dust returned. The only thing I can think of is that as the belts deteriorate they are producing this dust,

or is it the SC idler pulley that has become ultra shiny where it was once black?

Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone else?

that is the weirdest thing ive saw in a while

water pump leaking? Do you ever have to add coolant?

Do all the pulley's spin while the engine is running?  Any of them wobble?

Happened to a couple Saturn owners here:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39918

Seems too similar to be coincidence.

Also here with Hondas:

http://www.hondasuv.com/members/archive/index.php/t-57970.html

The common idea mentioned in both threads is rust, which seems to come from the AC compressor clutch. Worth a look.

Another theory is that certain belts contain steel belts, which leach rust when they get old.

Maybe try replacing the belt with a different brand (Gates/NAPA), since yours is torn anyway. If the problem goes away you know it was the belt.

deekster_caddy wrote:

water pump leaking? Do you ever have to add coolant?

That's what I thought, because I do sometimes top up coolant reservoir (very little) but engine and garage floor are clean and dry?

98riv wrote:

Do all the pulley's spin while the engine is running?  Any of them wobble?

Will double check but at a passing glance, nothing obvious.

AA wrote:

Happened to a couple Saturn owners here:

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39918

Seems too similar to be coincidence.

Also here with Hondas:

http://www.hondasuv.com/members/archive/index.php/t-57970.html

The common idea mentioned in both threads is rust, which seems to come from the AC compressor clutch. Worth a look.

Another theory is that certain belts contain steel belts, which leach rust when they get old.

Maybe try replacing the belt with a different brand (Gates/NAPA), since yours is torn anyway. If the problem goes away you know it was the belt.

Thanks for that Aaron, very useful links. Its my theory as well that the belts are producing this stuff, so really want to get to it now,
If its not, changing the AC compressor out to find out its something else would be a biatch. 

Id almost guess that the shiny idler pulley is seizing up a bit. It sure is a pain to replace that one.

Well, just wanted to update everybody, the orange dust was in fact produced by the belts. Its been about three weeks since I changed them and the dust has not returned. There wasn't much on the old belts to be able to tell you guys what brand they were. All I can make out was this number....
5060940 if that help anyone.

I replaced a set of belts on a Subaru Outback yesterday that had the same orange residue. Possibly something manufactured into the belts as a warning to replace them.

Possibly some steel braiding reinforcing the rubber in the belt? Not sure what exactly but there is more than just rubber in the belts! I would be surprised to find steel but who knows? I can't find anything in a quick search to back me up. I've never seen that before.